Impostor experience: It's not all in your head

Impostor experience has been a recurring theme in my recent conversations with friends and my coachees. It's also a feeling I've been grappling with myself, which has prompted me to writing a post about it.

Interestingly, several coaches I admire have also been addressing this topic in their LinkedIn posts recently, leading me to believe that impostor experience is far more prevalent than I initially realized.
 
Let's start with the naming
You might have heard about impostor syndrome before, I choose to say "impostor experience" , inspired by Shelby Priebe's article - Imposter Experience Is Not A Syndrome. Shelby emphasized the importance of reframing impostor experience as a common human experience, rather than a clinical syndrome and only then we can normalize it and by challenging our negative thoughts, we can start to build our confidence and self-belief.
 
What is Impostor Experience
It's the feeling that you don't deserve your success, and that you're going to be exposed as a fraud at any moment. It's a normal reaction to being in a new or challenging situation. It's also a reaction to the unrealistic expectations that society places on us.

Here are a few things to keep in mind if you're struggling with impostor experience:

❌It's not just you. Everyone experiences impostor experience at some point.
❌It's not your fault. Impostor experience is caused by a combination of factors, including societal expectations, our own self-doubt, and our fear of failure.
❌It doesn't mean you're not good enough. Impostor experience doesn't reflect your abilities or your accomplishments.

Here are a few tips for managing impostor experience:

✔ Acknowledge your feelings. 
It's okay to feel like an impostor. Don't try to suppress your feelings or pretend that you're not feeling the way you are.

✔ Challenge your negative thoughts. 
Ask yourself if your thoughts are realistic. Are you comparing yourself to unrealistic standards? Are you focusing on your weaknesses and ignoring your strengths?

✔ Talk to someone you trust. 
Talking about your feelings can help you to feel less alone and to get some perspective on your situation.

✔ Focus on your accomplishments. 
Make a list of your accomplishments and remind yourself of them regularly. This will help you to build your confidence and self-belief.

✔ Celebrate your successes. 
When you achieve something, take the time to celebrate your success. This will help you to appreciate your accomplishments and to recognize your own worth.